Autoclave or the like



June 23, 1925.

J A. BRIDGMAN AUTOCLAVE OR THE LIKE Filed April 5, 1924 Patented June 23, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,543,275 PATENT OFFICE.

J ALLINGTON BBIDGMAN, 'OF OWEGO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WILBUR WHITE CHEMICAL COMPANY, OF OWEGO, NEW YORK, CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOCLAVE on THE LIKE.

Application filed April 3,

of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Autoclaves or the like, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to autoclaves or similar devices for effecting chemical reactions and the like. 7

The present improvement comprises in general the construction of the autoclave and the arrangement of the'same on the supporting means inv such manner that e'lficient agitation of the contents may be effected, without the necessity of employing a stuffing-box or similar chemically vulnerable packing medium between relatively movable parts of the reaction vessel as heretofore constructed. In. the autoclave which formsthe subject of, this application there are no relatively movable parts in the reaction vessel; no stirring rod, projecting through the end or ends of the autoclave and rotated or reciprocated relatively to the vessel from without the latter, is employed; and the closure for the vessel and the vessel itself turn with the supporting and revolv ing shaft; The shaft is preferably hollow,

' vessel.

For increasing the agitating efiect, the supporting and turning shaft, which lies in a direction axially of the'vessel in my de vice, carries the vessel eccentrically thereof, and furthermore the vessel is preferably supported at an acute angle with the vertical.

The invention will better be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing,

' wherein:

Fig. 1 isa perspective view of the mounted autoclave from the side;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the autoclave showing a slightly modified manner 0 mounting, more particularly adapted for larger or commercial application; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the autoclave dismounted from the supporting frame. 1

The vessel 10, the particular proportions,

1924. Serial No. 704,076.

materialand shape of which are determined of course by the conditions of specific use, is rather conventionally illustrated as a cylindrical chamber with a flat bottom 11 and a substantially flattop 12 and of slightly less diameter than height. 7

In the form of vessel illustrated, the body of the vessel is provided (see Fig. 3) with a lateral collar 13 and an annular flange 14 which may be integral with the collar 13. The cover 12, shown in the drawing as extending over the entire top of the vessel, has a depending annular rib 15 slightly spaced from the periphery of the cover and which,

when the cover is in place, fits snugly within the flange 14. Between the rib 15 and the upper surface of the collar 13 is interposed a gasket 16, and the cover 12, gasket 16 and collar 13 may be perforated for the receptionof a number of suitable securing bolts 17,.held by nuts 18. The cover may instead be clamped or otherwise suitably secured to the bodyportion of the autoclave.

Fixed to the cover 12, eccentrically of the latter. and therefore eccentrically of the vessel 10, is a tubular shaft 19, the interior of which is in free communication with the reaction chamberthrough an opening 20 in the cover 12. The tubular shaft 19 may be fixed to the cover in any suitable manner. As illustrated, the cover 12 is formed or provided with an internally threaded boss 21 adapted to receive the externally threaded lower end of the tubular shaft. The shaft 19 need not be very long and may extend only a comparatively short distance from the support above, hereinafter more particularly described. As to the diameter of the shaft and the thickness of its wall, it is only necessary that these be sufficient to enable the shaft to withstand the strains of weight and torque imposed upon it in operation and any pressure to be developed inside the vessel.

The cover 12 may be provided with means for carrying a thermometer 22 or other pyrometric device so. that its indicating end will be exposed. As illustrated, the cover 12 has an aperture, the wall of which is f threaded and the threads are adapted to receive the threaded neck 23 of athermoineter well 241. The well may have a cap or flange 25 which lies closely against the upper face of the cover 12; v

At or near the v end of the tubular shaft 19, remote from the reaction vessel, a pulley 26 is pinned or. keyed to the shaft andthus provides means for imparting rotary move ment from a belt or the like to the shaft. Obviously thepulley may be replaced by a, worm, inion, sprocket or. equivalent form of gearing.

A suitable pressure indicator 2 7. is. afiixed. to the tubular shaft 19, revolves therewith and, communicating with the interior of the shaft, shows the pressure existing in the reaction vessel. Theparticular location of the juncture of thein dic ator with thehollow shaft is not important, but preferably the instrument issupported at the end of the shaft sot'liat its dial will-lie in theplaneof a diameter or of a chord ofthe shaft. In this position it can more easily be read asthe shaft is revolved.

The supporting frame may be of any suitable form. That shown by way of example is somewhat easel-like in general appearance and comprises a pair of fore legs and a pair of rear legs 29' held together in the desired angular relation by means of dowels or the like. 30; The lower ends of the legs may be bent to form feet .31 and the latter may be secured to the floor by boltsor clamps, apertures 32 being shown in'the form of Fig. l for reception of bolts or screws. The ofiset upper ends 33 of the rear members 29 are made shorter than the contiguous portions 3st of the front members 28 to accommodatea suitable pillow-block 35 which may be secured to the portions 34- of the front members-by bolts 36 or the like. The pillow-block 35 carries a journal-box 37 of any suitable form, providing a bearing for the tubular shaft 19. The box or housing may have the usual lubricant well 38.

Then a pulley 26' or similar gearing device having' sufficient radial surface is' employed, the lower side of such device may bear directly against the upper face or end of the journal box 3'7'or its bea ring; a hearing being thus provided to take the bulk of the weight of the autoclave; Obviously other forms of step-bearings may be substituted for this construction.

The angle of inclination of the shaft 19 and therefore ofthe autoclave may vary considerably. I have found that such autoclaves having an inclination of' between thirty and sixty degrees work very satisfactorily.

For ordinar laboratory work and some commercial operations, no support in addition tothat heretofore described is required. For larger and heavier work, however, it is desirable to provide an additional point of support to prevent undue wobbling. A second bearing for this purpose is indicated at 40 in Fig. 2.. It may be similar in general to the journal-box 37 and may similarl be carried by a pillow-block 41 secured to' the fore legs 28. A shaft 42, which may be solid or hollow, is threaded or. otherwise fixed: to the'bottom of the autoclave and turnsin the bearing 40. However, the'particular form. which, this. additional. bearing.- support. may take isnotinaterial It is believed that the use and operation of the autoclave described will be fully understood without further description. The chemicals may be introduced into and removed from the vessel by removal of the cover 12 from the body portion, or the cover may be provided with: a suitable opening having appropriate closing means.

It will bev seen that by the constructiondescribed the necessity for a stuffing-box. or similar packing is obviated. This-is highly. important. Packing, when subjected; to the action of chemicals such, for example,. as ammonia and alcohol under pressure, never gives particularly good ser.vice-;.and an; autoclave having an internal agitator and. its requisite stufling-box is, therefore,- a constant source of trouble. Thereis also danger,

of blowing out of the packing,.nesulting not. only in serious interruption of tl e operation. and possible lossor destruction of:.the con:

tentsof the autoclave, but also-inithe escape.

of fumes which may be: of an exceedingly dangerous nature.

The device herein described eliminates. these objectionablefeatures, and. still. it. pro.-.

vides splendid agitation of the. contentsof; the vessel.

The pressure gagerevolves with-the shaft, but this does not interfere with. accurate, readlng of: the gage, sincethe revolving. of.

the shaft may be comparatively slow. On

theother hand, there isa distinct advantage.

in so mounting the gage for any tendency for the gage to st1ckorfail to. register correctly is overcome by the mot/1011..

Certain detailsnot hereinafter specifically.

claimed are subject of course to rather wide variationwithout departing from the=scope and spirit of the invention.

I" claim 1. In combination, a reactionl'vessel,means tatable shaft rigidly connected to one end.

of saidvessel. and. supporting the vessel, said shaft having its axis. parallel to but noncoincident with the axis of said vessel, and means for-supporting. said. shaft in. an inclined position.

4. In: combinatioin. a reaction vessel. havaxis parallel to but non-coincident with the axis of the vessel, and means for supporting said shaft in an inclined positlon.

5. In combination, a reaction vessel, a rotatable hollow shaft rigidly connected to said vessel and having its interior in communication with the interior of'said vessel, said shaft supporting said vessel and having its axis parallel to but non-coincident with the axis of said vessel, a pressure indicating device on the shaft, rotating therewith and communicating with the interior thereof, and means for supporting the shaft in an inclined position.

6. In combination, a reaction vessel having a closure adapted to be firmly secured to the vessel and provided with an opening; a rotatable hollow shaft rigidly connected at one end to said closure over said opening, thereby supporting said vessel and having its interior in communication with the interior of the reaction vessel, said shaft having its ,axis parallel to but non-coincident with the axis of the vessel; a pressure indicating device on the shaft, rotating therewith and communicating with the interior thereof, and means for supporting said shaft in an inclined position.-

7. In combination, a reaction vessel; a rotatable shaft rigidly connected at one-end to said vessel and supporting the vessel, said shaft having its axis parallel to but noncoincident with the axis of the vessel; a journal-bearing above the vessel supporting said shaft in an inclined position; and a gear element above said bearing, fixed to said shaft and forming by lateral contact with the adjacent end of said journal-bearing a step-bearing for the shaft.

8. In combination, a reaction vessel, a r0- tatable shaft rigidly connected at one end to the top of said vessel and supporting the vessel, said shaft having its axis parallel to but non-coincident with the axis of the vessel; a journal-bearing above the vessel supporting said shaft in an inclined position; a gear element above said bearing, fixed to said shaft and forming by lateral contact with the adjacent end of said jour-' nal-bearing a step-bearing for the shaft; a second rotatable shaft in axial alinement with the first shaft and engaging the bottom of said vessel, and a bearing for said second shaft.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

J ALLINGTON BRIDGMAN. 

